Improvement in fruit-cans



J. r. MERRILL.

FRUIT SAN. No. 105,109 Patented July 5, 1870.

FIG.2.

F'IGJ 9 INVENTOH ATTEST tinned $121M gaunt dhllllinc.

JOHN F. ERRILLQOF CINCINNATI, OHIO,

Letters Patent No. 105,109, dated July 5,1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRUIT-CANS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the name.

Nature and Object of the Invention.

The object of this improvement is to attach, external sealing-troughs to fruit-cans, in an expeditious, secure, and economical way, which result is accomplished in the following manner:

The annular plate or rim, which constitutes the sealing-trough, is provided on its inner edge with either an upturned or down-turned flange, that is adapted to fit into a suitable circumferential groove, crease, or channel, which is formed in the body of the can, and when the latter has been expanded by any suitable implement, so as to cause its crease to hug the inner flange of the rim, and the body of the can soldered, said sealing-trough is immovably secured in position.

GeneraLDescripl'ion with Reference to the Drawing.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rim, the unsoldcred body of the can, and the bottom of the same; these three different members being detached;

Figure 2 is an axial section, showing the manner of applying the rim and bottom of the can to the body, and also the implement by which the latter is expanded, so as to cause its crease to hug the flange of the sealing-trough.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, showing the expanding implement fitting'within the can, and the latter in condition for soldering.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the upper part of my improved fruit-can. 1

A, B, and 0, represent respectively, the rim, the body, and the bottom of a fruit-can, embodying my improvements; the bottom having the customary upturned marginal flange c, and the sides of the can being either parallel or converging toward their lower ends, the latter form being preferred.

The rim A is composed of a single annular piece of sheet metal, which is struck up in such a mannet as to have a depressed portion, a, which constitutes the sealing-trough proper, and an inner flange, D, which can project either up or'down, as may be found convenient. v r I The outer circumference is stiffened by a swell, E.

. The body B of the can has turned in it, near its upper end, a groove, or recess, or channel, 12, whose dcpressed portion is presented toward the outside of the can.

In order that the rim and bottom may be united to the body of the can in a secure, uniform, and expeditious manner, and with the least expense, I adopt the following mode of construction;

I provide a stand, F, which is open at top, and closed at sides and bottom, and whose length is equal to the desired height of the sealing-trough.

I then drop into this open-mouthed stand the bottom 0 c of the can; after which I apply the rim A,.

in such a manner that its outer swell IE will rest upon the upper end of said stand.

The unsoldered sheet of metal'B, which is to compose the body of the can, after being properly formed,?

is then inserted within the rim A and the flange c of' the bottom.

I then force down within the body of the can a tapering plug or plunger, G, which expands the piece of sheet metal B. This insertion of the plunger G forces out the bottom of the can against the flange c, and,

also, expands the upper-part of the can in such a manner as to cause its crease l) to hug very tightly the inher flange D of the rim A.

In this expanded condition of the can, it, with the adhering bottom and rim, is lifted bodily from the stand, and the sides of the can and bottom soldered.-

The rim, t-hus attached, may be soldered to the body if preferred, although it is not necessary.

After soldering the sides and bottom 'of the can,

the tapering plug G is easily withdrawn by the aid of attached to the body at the proper position, and there can be no possibility of the rim being secured too near to or too remote from the upper end of the can.

' Claim.

1 claim as my inve'ntion-- The body B, having the circumferential crease or bead b, in combination with the rim A, constructed substantially as described, for the purpose set'forth.

In testimony of which invent-ion I hereunto set my hand.

JOHN F.,-MERRILL.

Witnesses:

WM. F. BAUER, JAMES H. LAYMAN. 

